Editor’s note: Today’s post is authored by Amr El-Kady, Chief Executive Officer at the Egyptian Tourism Authority, based out of Cairo.
I’ll never forget the smell of my parents’ home on a Friday morning. We’d be woken up to the tantalizing scent of Feteer meshaltit, layers upon layers of buttery pastry, floating into our rooms. My siblings and I couldn’t wait to devour it with “black honey,” or the succulent “Fool” (fava beans) served with hot Baladi bread. This was the aroma of my childhood, one that I passed onto my children. And every family I know has their own nostalgic smell that links to a special homemade meal and a moment in time.
Now we can revisit those moments, and explore Egyptian cuisine, in a brand new way. “Sofret Masr” — “A Taste of Egypt” — launches today on Google Arts & Culture. This collection was put together in partnership with Rawi, an annual publication that highlights Egyptian history and art, and Nawaya, a community-based network that promotes Egyptian heritage food systems. The project includes more than 1,700 high-resolution photographs, 60+ expertly curated stories and more than 30 videos of Egypt’s culinary history, dishes, culture and places for an immersive digital experience for those hungry for a taste of Egypt.